Finding Faith in Life's Storms

 

Summary

In the midst of life's storms, our faith is truly tested. We've all experienced trials that feel like relentless thunderstorms, and recently, the global pandemic has been a storm that has affected us all. This storm has not only been a medical crisis but has also impacted us economically, socially, and relationally. It's during these times that our faith must come to the forefront. It's easy to trust God when life is smooth and everything is going well. On sunny days, when the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing, we can easily proclaim, "God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good." But the real test of faith comes when the skies are cloudy, and the storms are raging.

We all face our own personal storms, but we share one God who is constant and unchanging. In these moments, we must appeal to our God and Savior. While I can't promise that trusting God will stop the rain, I can assure you that being with the Lord during the storm is the safest, best, and wisest place to be. Trusting God doesn't mean the absence of trials; it means having the assurance that He will guide us through them. Our faith is not about avoiding the rain but about finding refuge and strength in God amidst the storm.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith is tested in the storms of life. It's easy to trust God when everything is going well, but true faith is demonstrated when we continue to trust Him during difficult times. Our faith must be resilient and steadfast, even when the storm lingers and affects every aspect of our lives. [00:53]

- The global pandemic has been a storm that has affected us all, highlighting the interconnectedness of our world. This storm has not only been a medical crisis but has also impacted us economically, socially, and relationally. It serves as a reminder of our shared humanity and the need for collective faith and resilience. [00:36]

- Trusting God doesn't mean the absence of trials. While we may wish for the rain to stop, the reality is that storms are a part of life. Trusting God means finding refuge and strength in Him amidst the storm, knowing that He will guide us through it. [01:54]

- Our personal storms are unique, but we share one God who is constant and unchanging. In these moments, we must appeal to our God and Savior, trusting that He will provide the wisdom and strength we need to navigate the storm. [01:33]

- Being with the Lord during the storm is the safest, best, and wisest place to be. While I can't promise that trusting God will stop the rain, I can assure you that He will guide us through the storm, providing refuge and strength along the way. [02:12]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - The Storms of Life
[00:36] - The Global Pandemic as a Storm
[00:53] - Faith in the Midst of Trials
[01:12] - Trusting God on Sunny Days
[01:33] - Personal Storms and One God
[01:54] - The Safest Place in the Storm
[02:12] - Trusting God Through the Rain

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
2. Psalm 46:1-3 - "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the sermon describe the impact of the global pandemic on different aspects of our lives? [00:36]
2. What does the pastor suggest is the safest place to be during life's storms? [01:54]
3. According to the sermon, how does our faith change when we face trials compared to when life is going smoothly? [01:12]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the global pandemic has highlighted our interconnectedness and shared humanity? [00:36]
2. How does the pastor's message align with the idea in James 1:2-4 about trials producing perseverance and maturity in faith?
3. What does it mean to find refuge and strength in God during a storm, as described in Psalm 46:1-3, and how does this relate to the sermon? [01:54]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a personal storm you are currently facing. How can you actively seek God's guidance and strength in this situation? [01:33]
2. The sermon mentions that trusting God doesn't mean the absence of trials. How can you remind yourself of God's presence and guidance when you are in the midst of a difficult situation? [02:12]
3. Think about a time when you found it easy to trust God. How can you apply that same trust during more challenging times?
4. How can you support someone else who is going through a storm in their life, and what role can your faith play in that support?
5. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to trust God during storms. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith in that area?
6. How can you cultivate a mindset of resilience and steadfastness in your faith, as encouraged in the sermon, when facing ongoing challenges? [00:53]
7. Consider the interconnectedness highlighted by the pandemic. How can you foster a sense of community and shared faith with others during times of collective trials? [00:36]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith's Resilience in Life's Storms
In the storms of life, faith is truly tested. It is easy to trust God when everything is going well, but true faith is demonstrated when we continue to trust Him during difficult times. Our faith must be resilient and steadfast, even when the storm lingers and affects every aspect of our lives. The global pandemic has been a storm that has affected us all, highlighting the interconnectedness of our world. This storm has not only been a medical crisis but has also impacted us economically, socially, and relationally. It serves as a reminder of our shared humanity and the need for collective faith and resilience. [00:53]

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

Reflection: Think of a recent storm in your life. How can you actively choose to trust God in the midst of it today?


Day 2: The Global Pandemic and Our Shared Humanity
The global pandemic has been a storm that has affected us all, highlighting the interconnectedness of our world. This storm has not only been a medical crisis but has also impacted us economically, socially, and relationally. It serves as a reminder of our shared humanity and the need for collective faith and resilience. In these challenging times, we are called to support one another and to recognize that our struggles are not isolated. By leaning on our faith and each other, we can find strength and hope to navigate through these unprecedented times. [00:36]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

Reflection: How can you reach out to someone today to offer support or encouragement during this global storm?


Day 3: Trusting God Amidst Trials
Trusting God doesn't mean the absence of trials. While we may wish for the rain to stop, the reality is that storms are a part of life. Trusting God means finding refuge and strength in Him amidst the storm, knowing that He will guide us through it. Our personal storms are unique, but we share one God who is constant and unchanging. In these moments, we must appeal to our God and Savior, trusting that He will provide the wisdom and strength we need to navigate the storm. [01:54]

Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."

Reflection: Identify a trial you are currently facing. How can you seek God's refuge and strength in this situation today?


Day 4: One God, Constant and Unchanging
Our personal storms are unique, but we share one God who is constant and unchanging. In these moments, we must appeal to our God and Savior, trusting that He will provide the wisdom and strength we need to navigate the storm. Being with the Lord during the storm is the safest, best, and wisest place to be. While trusting God may not stop the rain, it assures us that He will guide us through the storm, providing refuge and strength along the way. [01:33]

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's unchanging nature. How can this assurance help you face your current challenges?


Day 5: The Safest Place in the Storm
Being with the Lord during the storm is the safest, best, and wisest place to be. While I can't promise that trusting God will stop the rain, I can assure you that He will guide us through the storm, providing refuge and strength along the way. Trusting God means having the assurance that He will guide us through trials, not necessarily avoiding them. Our faith is not about avoiding the rain but about finding refuge and strength in God amidst the storm. [02:12]

Nahum 1:7 (ESV): "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to seek refuge in God during your current storm?

Quotes

"Trials are tough, especially when they're deep. When it's like a thunderstorm, you know, not just the light rain, you want to get out of a storm and we've had our share of storms recently, haven't we? This virus that we've been afflicted with and affected by has been a medical health storm that's engulfed the whole world." [00:08:00]

"And the storm is bad, but at least if it goes away quickly, we can deal with it. But when a storm lingers, when a trial just won't let up, it can create all kind of havoc in every other area of our lives. But we're affected by it economically, and socially, and relationally. It just engulfs our total being." [00:33:00]

"But that's where our faith comes in and must kick in. Now anybody can trust God on a sunshiny day. Anybody can trust God when the weather is perfect, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing. We can then say, 'God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.' It rolls off of our lips." [00:56:00]

"But what happens when it's cloudy, thunderstorms? What happens when it's lightening and it just won't stop? Are we willing to trust God during the storms of life? You have your storms, I have my storms, the world has its storms, but we all have one God. And if we will appeal to our God and our great Savior during the storm—I am not suggesting it still won't rain." [01:19:00]

"I am suggesting that if you are with the Lord in the rain during the storm, you're in the safest, best, and wisest place to be. I would love to tell you, 'Trust God, and it won't rain.' But that wouldn't be the truth, would it? I will tell you, 'Trust God even though it rains and he'll know how to take you through the storm.'" [01:50:00]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?